Minutes

Proposed venue: Microsoft Teams

Contact: Kerry Nicholls  Email: kerry.nicholls@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama Scholarships 2019/20 and 2020/21

Minutes:

In considering this item, Randall Anderson, Ann Holmes and the Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor Alderman William Russell declared that they were members of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

 

Members received a report of the Principal of Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) on Guildhall School of Music and Drama Scholarships 2019/20 and 2020/21 and the following points were made:

 

·         Members noted their request on 5th March 2020 that more information be provided by the GSMD on the impact of previous ring-fenced funding allocations conditions as well as any new funding criteria.

 

·         This information was now available and the GSMD was further proposing that access to these scholarship opportunities be extended to under-18 students in the Junior Guildhall programme to provide an additional pathway into music and drama education for disadvantaged students, including those studying at schools within the City of London family of schools, which would also serve to align the scholarship programme more closely with the City of London’s Education, Skills and Cultural and Creative Learning strategies.

 

·         Scholarship funding was awarded on a case-by-case basis and students school fees and living costs were supported via a range of funds including scholarship funds, private donors and student loans.  Seven students had been supported through the GSMD scholarships programme for the 2019/20 academic year; whilst these students had been mainly vocal students, scholarships were not limited to this area and approximately 600 students at the GSMD (of a cohort of 950) received some form of support towards their studies.  Scholarship funding was key to attracting a diverse cohort of students who might not otherwise be able to study at GSMD and supported the School to maintain its international reputation as a leading conservatoire and drama school by attracting the most talented

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Appointment of Co-opted Member

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Town Clerk requesting views on the appointment of a Co-opted Member to the Education Board and the following point was made:

 

·         Nominations for a Co-opted Member with specialist experience in music had been sought from the Board on two occasions as a result of which an application had been received from Dr Ioan Davies who had wide-ranging experience and expertise in music performance and education. 

 

It was agreed to:

 

·         Recommend the approval of the appointment of Dr Ioan Davies for a four-year term to the Education Board in principal, subject to approval at the next formal meeting of the Education Board on 23 July 2020.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

The Strategic Education and Skills Director advised that the City of London Corporation was preparing for phased reopening of schools on 1 June 2020, which was likely to begin with Reception and Years 1 and 6.  Risk assessments were being undertaken by the Senior Leadership Team in each school and would be considered by relevant Governors and Trustees to identify safety and operational issues.  It was noted that matters remained fluid and subject to change.  There were particular concerns around the disproportionate effect that the COVID-19 shutdown had on disadvantaged pupils.  The Chairman requested that an update on plans to re-open schools be sent to Board Members in early June 2020.  A Member led the Board in thanking the Education Skills Unit and the City of London Academies Trust Central Team for their excellent work supporting schools and Governors during this difficult time.

 

The Virtual London Careers Festival would be held between 29 June to 3 July and would now be a nationwide event.  Rachel Bower had recently joined the Careers Working Group to contribute towards the development of the Festival. Board Members were requested to provide details of any contacts they might have relating to skills and careers to Fatema Chowdhury, Skills Project Officer.  The City’s new online learning initiative, Green Spaces, Learning Places had recently been launched and offered a range of virtual learning resources for children and young people.

 

The Chairman advised Members that it was his intention to stand down as Chairman as soon as governance arrangements allowed and ideally before the July meeting. The Deputy Chairman also announced her plans to stand down as a Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the City of London Academies Trust with a view to nominating Caroline Haines to take up the vacant Trustee role allotted to the

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Appointment of Co-opted Member - Appendix A

Minutes:

This was a non-public appendix to Item 2: Appointment of Co-opted Member.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.